Patrick Makau Shocked He’s Not In Olympics

Patrick Makau has the world record, but he's not going to the Olympics in the marathon. Photo: RunBlogRun

He feels he sacrificed his training for nothing.

The world-record holder in the marathon, Patrick Makau, is not happy.

Two weeks ago, the Kenyan learned that he would not be competing on his country’s Olympic squad. Instead, Wilson Kipsang, Moses Mosop, and Abel Kirui will be wearing Kenya’s colors on the starting line in London.

Makau, who set the world record of 2:03:38 in Berlin last year, admits he doesn’t harbor and ill will towards Athletics Kenya, but is still saddened by their announcement.

“I went to London knowing I was already in the team for the Olympics,” he said. “I therefore was not going to push myself to finish the marathon. I sacrificed a lot of races since last year for the sake of Olympics, but all that is now down the drain.”

Former marathon world-record holder Paul Tergat has given Makau his support.

Tergat is an Olympic silver medalist.

“I have watched Ethiopians this year and I know they can beat us in Olympics, given their longer training period.”

Duncan Larkin

Duncan Larkin is a freelance journalist and author who’s been covering the sport of running for over a decade. He’s run 2:32 in the marathon and won the Himalayan 100-Mile Stage Race in 2007. He wrote the book RUN SIMPLE, and coaches runners of all abilities.
You can learn more about him here: http://roadsmillslaps.tumblr.com/about